Our favorite things to do in Waimea

Waimea is known for many things! Its rolling hills, the crisp nights and beautiful clear skies, its close proximity to the impressive Waipi’o Valley and, of course, the beautiful white sand beaches on the north Kona and Kohala cast.

If you are spending the night in one of the charming bed and breakfasts in Waimea you should definitely take your car and drive a little bit out of town to look for a dark spot and go stargazing. Even better, drive up to the Onizuka visitor center halfway up Mauna Kea to check out the free stargazing program (including telescopes! 4 nights / week).

Hiking and horseback riding

The scenery around Waimea is stunning and you will find many hiking and horseback riding opportunities here. At a small distance driving you find the unmissable Waipio valley (you need a 4WD car to drive down into the valley) and the almost as beautiful but more easily accessible Pololu valley.

The beach in Pololu valley is well-suited for a rewarding rest after you hike down into the valley. This hike, by the way, is one of our favorite 5 short hikes of the Big Island.

If you are into horseback riding, we can also recommend a visit to the Parker ranch and the Anna ranch heritage center. In both places you can learn a lot about the history of ranching and the Hawaiian cowboy (pianolo).